New Hope Valley Railway

New Hope Valley Railway Operate-a-Loco Program

The New Hope Valley Railway Operate-a-Loco program puts YOU in the engineer’s seat of one of our diesel-electric or steam locomotives. Spend an hour at the throttle on the 4-mile New Hope Valley Railway main line through the North Carolina piney woods. Experience the thrill of driving a real railroad locomotive.

Operate-a-Loco participants who choose the Steam locomotive option will experience what it must have been like to run a steam engine during railroading's golden age! Sound like fun? It is, but it is not for the feint of heart. Long pants and closed toed shoes are required. Long sleeve shirts are recommended but not necessary. The temperature inside the steam locomotive cab can get up to 125 degrees fahrenheit, so be sure you can take the heat! You must be able to climb into the locomotive cab and stand for over an hour unassisted. Bring your own gloves if you have them or you can borrow a pair of ours. Steam Operate-a-Loco sessions may take up to two hours depending upon level of participation.

And yes, you can blow the whistle!

Operate-a-Loco fare is $125 for Diesel / $250 for Steam.

Operate-a-Loco sessions schedule for 2012:
Saturday, 5 May 2012 – Both Steam and Diesel Locomotives
Sunday, 20 May 2012 – Diesel Locomotives Only
Saturday, 2 June 2012 – Both Steam and Diesel Locomotives
Sunday, 17 June 2012 – Diesel Locomotives Only
Saturday, 30 June 2012 – Both Steam and Diesel Locomotives
Sunday, 15 July 2012 – Diesel Locomotives Only
Saturday, 4 August 2012 – Both Steam and Diesel Locomotives
Sunday, 19 August 2012 – Diesel Locomotives Only
Saturday, 1 September 2012 – Both Steam and Diesel Locomotives
Sunday, 16 September 2012 – Diesel Locomotives Only
Saturday, 6 October 2012 – Both Steam and Diesel Locomotives
Sunday, 21 October 2012 – Diesel Locomotives Only
Prices for Operate-a-Loco:	$125 - historic diesel locomotive $250 - 0-4-0T steam locomotive

The New Hope Valley Railway reserves the right to substitute equipment and cancel or reschedule these events as required by operations. Terms and conditions: Operators participating in the Operate-a-Loco Program must be at least eighteen (18) years old and possess a valid drivers license. Operators participating in the Operate-a-Loco Program are under the direct supervision and control of a qualified instructing engineer at all times. This instructing engineer is the governing authority on all operations, rules, and regulations. The Operate-a-Loco Program is governed by the regulations and rules of applicable law, the US Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), US Department of Transportation (DOT), NC Department of Transportation (NC-DOT), Association of American Railroads (AAR), New Hope Valley Railway, North Carolina Railway Museum, and other governing bodies. Operators participating in the Operate-a-Loco Program must be physically and psychologically able to perform the required tasks of the program without danger to themselves, any others involved, or the track and equipment of the New Hope Valley Railway. Operators participating in the Operate-a-Loco Program do so at their own risk, and shall absolve and hold harmless the North Carolina Railway Museum, Inc. and New Hope Valley Railway, and their volunteers and employees, from any and all liabilities, personal of consequential, whatsoever, including but not limited to liabilities caused by equipment failure, accident, negligence, or natural disaster. Any misrepresentations in compliance with the provisions, terms, and conditions of the Operate-a-Loco Program shall cause any agreement to provide service to become null and void on the part of the North Carolina Railway Museum, Inc. and the New Hope Valley Railway.